USC Rossier Dean Karen Symms Gallagher has been elected to lead the board of directors of the nation’s only teacher-accreditation organization.

On Thursday, members of the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation elected Gallagher to chair the board. She will succeed Mary Brabeck of NYU Steinhardt, who has served as chair since July 2013.

“Karen is an innovator in teacher preparation: She launched a Master of Arts in Teaching program and an immersive education leadership program that have become national models for engaging students in practice within schools and districts,” said CAEP President Christopher A. Koch in a statement. “She brings a wealth of diverse experience and serves as a voice for those professionals who work to develop our educators of tomorrow.”

The board of directors makes policy for CAEP, as well as appointments to committees and the CAEP Accreditation Council. The board also reviews the performance and activities of CAEP, approving its annual budget and annual independent audits.

“I appreciate the opportunity my fellow board members are providing me. The work we face is challenging, but very rewarding,” Gallagher said. “Accreditation is an opportunity for us to work together to demonstrate excellence in educator preparation, and to create a broad vision of successful preparation of professionals for diverse learners based on equitable, data-driven practice. I look forward to working with my fellow board members and fellow deans to strengthen and enhance the accreditation experience.”

CAEP is the sole accrediting body for educator preparation. More than 900 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP accreditation system, which was formed in 2010 through the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC).